Insulating-support for high-tension conductors.



L. STElNBERGER.

INSULATlNG SUPPORT FOR HIGH TENSION CONDUCTOBS APPLICATION FILED JULY 3 19]!- 1,1 60,544. Patented Nov. 16, 1915 2 SHEETSSHEET I.

87 1mm W M h momvers COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH 60., WASHINGTON, D c.

MUTNESSES L. STEINBERGER.

INSULATING SUPPORT FOR HIGH TENSION CONDUCTORS.

APPLICATION'FILED JULY 3,1911.

1,160,544. Patented N0v.16, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N I N IlllllfilliIllllllll To all whom it may comm.- Be'it known that I, Louis Srnmnnnenn, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and'State of New York, have invented a'new and Improved InsulatingSupport' for High-Tension "Conductors, of which the following is a full, clear,'and exact description. 1

My inventionrelat'es to an insulating sup: port'admitting of general use but more particularly adapted for hightension lines. Y My invention comprehends the employment of rod type insulators suspended from a cross arm or other support for supporting the line, and also comprehends the combination when desired or required) of rod type,

and disk or hood type insulators suspended from a cross arm or other support, for supporting the line, thearrangement of the insulators being such as to promote a maximum of strength and durabilityfcombined with a certain'amount porting the hue. V l 3 I My invent on further comprehends' means of flexibility supfor protecting the insulating members or parts thereof as; far as practicable from moisture, thereby enhancing the value of the insulation. r

In addition, my system comprehends such an arrangement of parts as will distribute the mechanical strains to the best advantage and, tend toprevent the line from falling to the ground or being unduly lowered in case of the destruction of one or more of the various parts employed. 7 i

Among the many purposes sought to be accomplished by aid of my invention'are the following :'I; To provide a clamp 0r analogous supporting member for sustaining the line and to connect with this clamp or analogous member a plurallty of independent'insulating supports, one acting in a different manner from the other. H. To so dispose a number of fiexlble insulating members and a number of rigid insulating members thatw'hile all of the members contribute to supportthe'line therigidity of'the rigid insulating members does not interfere with- .the flexibility of the flexible insulating members, and vice versa, the flexibility of the flexible members does not interfere with the rigidity of the rigid members. IIL To provide a rain-shield of such form and so po 7 sitioned that'inaddition. toshedding moisrim srnrns EATENT LOUIS STEINBERGER, 0F BROOKLYN, NEVI YORK.

V preventing as a whole. detachable so that it can be dispensed with msu'Lnmiue-surronr ron Hron rnrIsIoN oounuorons.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patqgnted; Nov, .16, 1915, Application filed Jul 3, 1911. Seria1No.;636, 598.

ture, said rain-shield serves as a brace for breakage of various parts. IV. To promote accessibility to the various parts and-to enable one part to be removed temporarily without disabling the system V. To render the rain-shield whenever desired. VI. To so dispose the lators that as far as practicable heavy'strains in particular directions are bornelby particular parts. VII. To provide a rod type strain insulator which can be used as an in dependent unit, and in .anyrelation where a strain insulator is usually employed. VIII. Toprovide a removable rain shield for horizontallydisposed longitudinal insulators. IX. To provide a form of flexible rod type insulators and the chain type insususpension insulator capable of service as a dead-ending for conductors.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a nart of this specification, and in which like numbers indicate like parts. Figure 1. is a perspective showing my systemas used upon a number ofassooiated lines, some of the rain-shields being in this instance removed for the sake of clearness;

Fi 2 isa detail showing a fragmentary section through a group of insulators used for supporting a l ne and showing the mannerin which the rain shield is mounted;

tion; Fig. 6 is a detail showing themanne'r of mounting the cross beam upon the sup porting towers;andlFig. 7 is a detail show ing the manner. in which the brackets used, for supporting the rain. sheds are prevented from turning on their/supports.

The various lines to be supported are shownat 7T and may be wires, "cables or conductors of any desired form. Each line 7 is inglthje line, said line appearing in cross secengaged at intervals by clamps 8 preferably of the form shown in Fig, 5, Each clamp 8 is provided at its bottom with a hook portion 9 and with a jaw 10 for engaging the line. The jaw 10 is held in position by aid of a bolt 11 and nut 12. By removing the nut the jaw 10 may be disengaged from the line and the latter easily removed or replaced. For purposes of adjustment the wire need not be disengaged entirely from the clamp as the bolt 11 may be loosened by turning the nut 12 and the clamp can be slipped along the line to any desired extent, and when properly adjusted may be merely tightened by turning the nut. The clamp 8 is provided with ears 13, 14, preferably four in number and disposed at right angles relatively to each other. The ears 14 are in this instance forked. Each ear is provided with a hole 15. As may be readily understood from Fig. '5, the ears 13, 14 are somewhat independent of each other and need not all be in use at the same time. In some instances (see right of Fig. 1) only the ears 13 are in active service, the ears 14 being idle; in the other instance (see left of Fig. 1) all four of the ears being in use at the same time. The number of cars to be used is not always the same, and varies with the nature ofthe work for which the clamp is employed.

Where my system is used as indicated in Fig. 2, I employ a number of'rod type insulators 16 (see Fig. 4), each made of a single integral rod provided with successive portions 17, each of substantially frusto-conical form, the portions of greatest diameter of each section, where it joins the next successive section presenting practically an annular shoulder 18. The rod type insulators are usually arranged in pairs, the insulators of each pair inclining toward each other at their lower ends and connected with the adjacent ears 14 of the clamp 8 by aid of eyes 19, having holes 22 and pivot pins 20. Each eye 19 is integral with a head 21 which is secured directly upon the lower end of the corresponding rod type insulator. The up per end of each rod type insulator is similarly provided with a head 22. The construction of these heads may be understood by reference to Fig. 4. They are preferably formed of metal and are each substantially frusto-conical in shape, and the adjacent ends of the insulator are provided with frusto-conical depressions 22 and 22 into which the heads fit neatly, though they do not quite reach the bottoms. Two gaskets 22 and 22 are mounted within the respective openings 22 and 22 and engage the adjacent portions of the heads 21 and 22. A rod 22 of a tough, strong insulating material, is provided with a threaded end 22 which extends into the head 22, the latter being threaded for this purpose. The rod 22 also extends into the head 21 and is e11- gaged by a rivet 22 which extends diametrically through both the head 21 and the .ad-

jacent portion of the head 22 The rod type insulator is, by virtue of the rod 22 and the two insulator heads 21 and 22, made very strong and it is rendered still stronger by virtue of the strength of the insulating material of which it is mainly composed and which serves in a measure to brace the rod 22 and the metallic heads 21 and 22.

It will be apparent that the gaskets 22 and 22 serve as cushions, and, when the heads 21 and 22 are pressed thereagainst, they serve to impart a tensile strain to the strain member G and a corresponding compression strain to the body of the insulator, so that these parts are held rigid without undue strain upon the side walls of the pockets. By the time that the side surface of the heads come into close contact with the side walls of the pockets a considerable pressure is exerted upon the gaskets or cushions. Likelihood of injury to the material forming the walls of the pockets is thus avoided. The gaskets or cushions of course also serve to maintain the several parts against rattling or the like such as may naturally follow unequal expansion or contraction of the different insulating materials entering into the construction of the body and tension rod.

The head 22 of the upper end of the rodtype insulator, is provided with an eye 24 integral with it. The eye 24 is supported by a clevis 25, the upper portion of the latter being properly formed to fit the under side of a pin 31 as hereinafter described.

At 26 is a bearing which fits upon the upper side of the pin 31 and mates the upper end of the clevis. The bearing 26 and the upper end of the clevis are provided with lugs 27, and extending through these lugs are bolts 28.

A rod-type insulator 29 is provided with annular depressions or grooves 30 and with comparatively sharp annular surfaces 30. This is for the purpose of facilitating the dripping of moisture from the under side of the rod-type insulator, should any such moisture happen to reach the rod-type insulator. This rod-type insulator 29 is merely a straight bar disposed horizontally I and supported at its middle by a cross beam 40, as hereinafter described.

The pin 31 is provided upon its upper surface with a facet 31 extending inwardly for a little distance from the outer end of the pin. The pin 31 for a little more than half of its length, is embedded within the material of the rod-type insulator 29 and is coaxial with this rod-type insulator, a portion of the pin, however, being bare and extending directly outward from the center of the rod-type insulator. A supporting bracket 33 is provided at its bottom with a massive eye 32 which fits neatly upon the pin 31. The bracket 33 is also provided News with an extending portion 34 integral with ing into which the protruding portion ofthe pin 31 neatly fits, the upper surface of the openingbeing fiat, or in other words, mating the facet 31, as will be understood from Fig. 7. The pin 31 is fur- .ther provided with a reduced threaded portion 31'. The bracket 33 is, by virtue, of the fit of the eye 32- upon the pin3l, effectively prevented from turning Itisstill further prevented from turning by pressure of a nut 35 and that of a lock nut 36,;said

nuts being fitted upon the-reduced threaded portion 31 of a supporting pin 31.

shield 37, having generally the form of an inverted trough of uniform width, is disering various/metallic parts carried by said ends. There'are two of the brackets 33 for supporting each rain shield 37,, and secured thereto by bolts39, 1 I v r Each rod-type insulator 29 is engaged by a strap 41 haying. generally a U-shaped form in cross "section 1 and held upon the upper side ofthecross beam by aid of boltsflQ. The cross beam 40 is substantially -Tshaped in cross'sectiom Bolts 43 extend throughgthe lower portion of the cross beam and support the compositeflexible insulating members or chain orinsulators shown in.

' detailin Fig. 3. Each of these chains is made up of separate units 434:, each unit comprising a disk 45 and a hood l6 of insulating material. Each unit further comprises eyes i'f', 48 of metal, the two eyes of each unit being insulated from each other. The cross beams 40 are mounted upon supporting towers 49, each made up principally of A frame 50, the supporting beams e0 being held in positionby aid of As above stated, the rain shields 37 are detachable and maybe removed by taking out the bolts 39. In some instances, it may be preferable to discard some of the 'rain' shields (see Fig. 1), butiin doing this no structural change is necessary. If desired the brackets 33 may be kept permanently in position upon theends of the rod-type insulator 29, so that the rain shield 37 may be added whenever desired by the operator.

Since however, the brackets 33, like the rain shields are removable," these brackets can be taken off altogether and the nuts 35, 36 tightened up accordingly.

' My invention is used asfollows: In instances where the linefrequires considerable bracing, as shown for instance at the left of Fig. 1 Where thelines' are bent into curves,

The eye 32 is provided with an -open-.

A rain I independently of each other.

I prefer to employ, as a group for'support ing the line at a single point, one pair of rod-type insulators 16 and one pairof flexible or chain insulators, the flexible insulators extending in a direction crossing the length of the line. WVhemhowever, the line is notsubjected to any considerable strain in a direction crossing the length of the line, the rod-type insulators only need be employed.

inceall of'the advantages peculiar to my system may be employed in the same structure, as indicatedin Fig. 2, this figure may be considered as a representation of my in vention in its entirety. It should be understood, however, that I may, and frequently do, discard Various parts shown in this figure, and that various mechanical fea- I tures shown in this figure may be employed Suppose now, that, as shown inFig 2, and also in Fig. 1 at the left, the parts are assembled as shown: The rain shield, being detachable, may be laid aside if desired, as

indicated at the left of Fig. 1. If the lateral displacement of one of the lines .7 due to the'curvature of said line or to any other 1 cause is very great so that the strain of the line isexerted altogether upon one of-the chains to the exclusion of the other, it may not be necessary to use but one of the chains, In this event, the chain employed should, of course, be placed upon that side of the line where it will encounter and consequently oppose, the lateral strain of the Wire.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, my system can be employed in quite a number of different ways and may be used for supporting lines which are subjected to peculiar strains or vwhiehare not subjected to any strains except those which are, always to be expected. I

Suppose now that the system, in its complete form, is employed, and that the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 supports the line 7 at a particular point. If the operator finds that the line 7 is pulling considerably harder upon one of the rod type insulators 16 than upon its mating rod-type insulator, he can, by loosening the clamp 8, adjust the line as above described. Suppose now that owing to .a strong wind pressure or to some other momentary or temporary cause, the line 7 is pulled sharply to the right, according to Fig. 2. The rod-type insulator 16 at the left vlatingmaterials, including Electrose, will stand'greater compression strain than tensile strain, and consequently the rod-type insulator 16 at the right can, because of its position and the character of the strain th o n 1 on it resist a rcssure which is 1 ployed for continuing the service.

enormous. Not only that, but the rod-type insulator 16 at the left, by pulling to the left, sustains a part of the strain. This, however, is not the only distribution of strains present. The rod-type insulator 29 is braced by the rain shield 37 and consequently these two parts act in much the same manner as a single rod-type insulator of large dimensions and possessing great strength. It will be noted that when either one of the rodtype insulators 16 is subjected to a compression strain, or to a tensile strain as the case may be, this strain is practically in the general direction of the axis of the rod-type insulator thus affected. For the purpose of allowing the free transmission of the various strains to which the rod-type insulators are subjected, the chain type insulators are free to swing to the right or left as will be understood from Fig. 2.

It may be here noted that in the'construction of transmission systems employing towers to which insulators are attached for supporting conductors from the towers, especially in the high tension transmission, itis customary to employ flexible suspension insulators depending from most of the towers, such insulators having the conductor attached to their lower end. At numerous points in the length of the system other towers must be employed to which the conductor may be deadended so as to be fixed against excessive longitudinal movement, and jumper connections, and the like em- These latter towers must obviously be lower than the other towers, that is, they must have portions to which the conductor is to he at tached, lowered into the horizontal plane of the conductor. Strain insulators are attached to these portions by one end, and the conductor attached to the strain insulators at the other end, so that the strain insulators extend substantially horizontally in a well known manner.

By the use of my invention I have avoided the necessity for providing towers of different heights for dead-ending, jumper connection, or other like purposes. Any one of my insulators may be employed as a deadending. The structure is entirely inflexible, in the direction of the length of the conductor, except as the parts, especially the horizontally disposed. member 29 will bend and give under stress, and, being clamped rigidly upon the conductor is fully capable of sustaining the strains from the conductor to retain it against appreciable longitudinal movement as has been above clearly set forth. The structure, is, however, susceptible to a desirable flexibility transversely of the length of the conductor. Jumper connections, therefore, are entirely dispensed with, for their only function, or at least their most important function, is to insulator structure and in case of break age, the conductor would fall free of the tower, thus saving the tower and insulator from possible destruction and avoiding short circuit to the ground.

Suppose now that the line 7 is subjected to a powerful lateral pressure, as for instance one due to a wind blowing directly across it. In this event, all of the strain is borne by one of the chain type-insulators, and as the chain type insulators have flexibility, the line can yield slightly and move in a direction lateral to the length of the line. The natural sagging of the chain type insulators will afford ample lateral movement of the line without requirement for purposely providing a slack. The strength of the line is thus greatly conserved as the line is not nearly as apt to break under pressure of the wind or of accumulation of snow or ice if free to yield slightly and move in the direction in which the pressure against it is applied. Moreover, the flexibility given to a line by my system facilitates the bending and shaking of the line when loaded with snow or ice and thus facilitates the automatic removal of said snow or ice. Indeed, by having the line free to swing slightly in the general direction of its length, moisture is shed more readily from the line. This is because the movements of the line, especially under vicissitude of wind pressure from various directions and of different intensities, causes the line to shake off raindrops and to become dry. The lost play between the member 8 and the lower ends of the rod-type insulators 16, and in the eyes 24. at the upper ends of the rod-type insulators 16, increase the possible longitudinal movement of the line wire in addition to that aiforded by the flexing of the horizontal. rod-type insulator 29. The whole movement is only slight, and while it is suliicient to absorb sudden shocks, it is, however, not enough to interfere with the use of the structure as a dead-ending for a conductor. It

will be observed that the construction shown and described, while promoting sutiicient flexibility for the purposes stated, has nevertheless a considerable degree of rigidity,

which is but manifested after the limit of flexibility is reached. The two rod-type insulators 16 are so disposed and connected that the two chain typeinsulators serve as guys for preventing movements of the line l distinct parts of the insulator mechanism. For instance, a direct lineal pull upon the line 7 is sustained by a compression strain 7 in one of the rod-type insulators and a tensile" strain in another rod-type insulator, these two parts sustaining all or nearly all of the particular strain in question. Again, if there be a strong side wind, practically allof its pressure is resisted by a distinct part, to wit, one of the chain type insulators. Here is a principle now well recognized in many arts, for instance, in theconstruction of heavy ordnance and in architecture. This principle is to throw all excessively heavy strains upon distinct parts, built for the purpose of resisting them.

As above stated, I do'not limit myself to the use of a structure comprising all of the various parts above described. Neither do I limit myself to the use of any particular material for the construction of the insulating members though for this purpose I preferably employ a substance known in this art as Electrose. N or do I limit myself to the preciseform or part of any part as shown, nor to any particular combination of the parts herein shown and described, the scope of my invention being commensurate with the scope of my claims.

Having thus described my inventicn, I'

claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent 1. An insulating support, comprising a pair of rod-type insulators for-supporting a strain in the general direction of their length, a pair of chain-type insulators extending in a different direction from that of said rod-type insulators for supporting a strain in the general direction of their own length, and means for connecting a conductor to said rod-type insulators and to said chain-type insulators, said means serving also to connect all of said insulators together, and the chain typeinsulators permitting a'limited movement of the conductor in one direction.

2. In an insulating supportthe combination with across beam, and a stationary rodtype insulator disposed horizontally and supported by said cross beam, of rod-type insulatorssuspended from. said first-mentioned rod-type insulator and inclined down-e wardly toward each' other; a conductor supportingmember carriedby said last mentioned rod-type insulators and located at the lower ends thereof, and guying means for said conductor supporting member, said 7 guying means allowing the supporting memher a limited play. I

3. An insulating support comprising a horizontally disposed base member, a rod type insulator extending across said base member and being supported thereby, a pair of rod-type insulators connected to swing one from each of the ends of said first mensupporting member connected to, the lower ends of said inclined insulators, a pair of chain-type insulators connected to said conductor supporting member andextending at different angles therefrom into supported engagement with said base member, so as to serve as guys permitting a limited swinging of said conductor supporting member.

4. An insulating support comprising a horizontally disposed rod type insulator, means for supporting the same, a pair of separately formed elongated insulators suspended one from each end of said first'mentioned insulator being inclined toward each other, so that their lower ends are in relatively close proximity, and a line supporting 'member connecting said juxtaposed lower ends.

5. An insulating support comprising a substantially horizontally disposed longitudinal insulator, means for supporting the same, a rain shield above said insulator, a plurality of other insulators adapted to support a conductor, means connecting said plurality of insulators independently with said first mentioned insulator, and said connecting means serving to support said rain shield.

6. In a suspension insulator, the combination with a suitable support, of a four-point suspension for a conductor, comprising a pair of rigid, opposed, convergent, rod type insulating members,and a pair of conversaid support.

I 7. An insulating support comprising a rod-type insulator, a plurality of chain-type insulators, and means connected to said in sulators for supporting a conductor, said rod-type insulator being arranged to receive. va strain 111 the direction of its length to re-m tain the conductor against appreciable lon gitudinal movement in one direction, and

said chain-type insulators. extending from i said conductor supporting means in opposite directions transversely of the longitudinal" plane of the conductor and serving to limit movement of the conductor transversely of its length.

8. An .insulating support, comprising a rod-type insulator disposed horizontally and supported at its approximate middle, said rod-type insulator being provided at its ends with metallic pins extending substantially axially therefrom, brackets mounted one upon each of said pins and extending upwardly therefrom adapted for supporting a protective member above said rod-type insulator, and a pair of rod-type line supporting insulators pivotally connected one to each of said metallic pins, substantially as described.

' stantially as described.

10. In an insulating support, the combination of a clamp for engaging a line wire and being provided with two pairs of cars arranged in substantially right angular rela tion;rod-type insulators connected with one pair of said ears; and chain-type insulators connected with the other pair of said ears and extending substantially at right angles to said rod type insulators, said rod type insulators serving to prevent movement of said line wire in all but one plane, and said chain-type insulators serving to limit the movement of said line wire in that one plane.

11. In an insulating structure for supporting a line wire, the combination of a suitable support, a pair of elongated insulator members spaced apart at their upper ends and depending from said support, said elongated insulator members approaching each other at their lower ends, means connecting together the lower ends of said elongated insulator members and being connected with the line wire, both said elongated insulator members and said line wire lying in a common vertical plane, and guying means there for transverse to the line wire.

12. In an insulating structure, the combination with a suitable support, of a rod type insulator rigidly connected to said support and projecting laterally therefrom, and other insulator members connected to' the ends of said rod type insulator having means associated therewith for the attachment of a line wire.

13. In an insulating structure, the combination with a suitable support, of a rod type insulator rigidly connected with said sup port and projecting laterally therefrom, a second rod type insulator connected to the outer end of the first rod type insulator, means for connecting a conductor to said second rod type insulator, and guying means for said second rod type insulator.

14. In an insulating structure, the combination with a suitable support, of a rod type insulator rigidly connected to said support and projecting laterally therefrom, a second rod type insulator connected to swing from the outer end of the first rod type insulator, means extending from the outer end portion of said second rod type insulator and engaging said first rod type insulator to retain the second rod type insulator against swinging movement in one direction,

and means for attaching a conductor to the outer end of the second rod type insulator.

15. An insulating support, and a protecting member therefor, said insulating support comprising an insulating member, and a plurality of other insulating members, a connecting member connecting said last mentioned insulating members together, said connecting member having means for the attachment of a conductor, connecting means connecting said last mentioned insulating members with said first mentioned insulating member, and said connecting means serving to support said protective member.

16. An insulating support comprising a rod type insulating member supported intermediate its length, a plurality of other insulating members connected to opposite ends of said first insulating member, and conductor attaching means supported from said last mentioned insulating members collectively.

17. An insulating support comprising an elongated insulating member supported at its approximate middle, a plurality of other insulating members connected to said first insulating member at points spaced from the point of support of said first insulating member, and conductor attaching means supported from said last mentioned insulating members collectively.

18. An insulating support comprising an insulating member, a plurality of other insulating members connected to said first insulating member, conductor attaching means supported from said last mentioned insulating members collectively, and guying means for said conductor attaching means.

19. A rod-type insulator comprising a body portion, a strain member extending through said body portion having a head arranged at one end thereof, said head be-- ing movable in one direction to dispose one portion of the surface thereof directly in engagement with the surface of said body, and a cushion member arranged between another portion of the surface of said head and the surface of said body in a position to be compressed when the first mentioned surface of said head has been moved into on gagement with the surface portion of said body, for the purpose set forth.

20. A rod-type insulator comprising a body portion having a frusto-conically shaped pocket formed in one end thereof, a strain member extending through said body portion having a frusto-conically shaped head at one end thereof received in said pocket in close engagement with the conical walls of said pocket, and a cushion member ends of said body portion, a'strain member extending throughsaid'bore, having frusto- -conically shaped heads at its opposite ends,

one of said heads being adjustable longitudinally of said strain member to dispose the conical exterior surface of both of said heads in close contact with the conicalwalls 7 of the respective pockets, and cushion means wlthln one of said pockets compressed be tween the inner'end surface of the adjacent head and the bottom Wall of said pocket.

22. An insulating support comprising a rod type insulator, other insulators connected at oppositee-ndstheerof for the attache ment of a conductor thereto, a rain shield,

and means forretaining said other insu lators connected to said rod type insulator,

said means alsoserving to retain said rain shield.

23. An insulating support comprising a rod opposite ends thereof for the attachmentflof a. conductor thereto, a rain'shiel'd, and means for retaining said other insulators connected to said rod type insulator, said means also serving to retain said rain shield and being adapted to permit detachment of the rain shield Without detachment of said other insulators.

24:. In a device of the class described, a supporting member of T cross section, means for holding, said supporting member With the Web thereof depending in a vertical plane, a rod type insulator resting upon the upper surface of the cross of the T and having its opposite ends extending beyond the opposite ends of the cross of the T, other insulators carried by the projecting portions of said rod type insulator and by the depending Web of the T, and means supported collectively by said other insulators for supporting a conductor. a

;In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

, LOUIS STEINBERGER.

Witnesses c VVALTON HARRISON, PHILIP D. RoLLHAUs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 'of Iatents Washington, D. G. 

